Switch operating device



April 14, 1959 FildNov. 15, 1957 S. N. SMALL SWITCH OPERATING DEVICE 2Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY April 14, 1959 s. N. SMALL 2,882,373

swxwcn OPERATING DEVICE Filed Nov. 15. 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 fl. g. 5.fig. Q.

52 5 I I 449 i I V45 55 46 l I ll ,4/ j, 45 40 5 4/ 4 2 1 6 $42 39 57 5758 INVENTOR.

5/9MUEL Al. SMALL United States atent O i to Milton Spinner, Kew GardensHills, and one-fourth to David Slavin, Brooklyn, N.Y.

Application November 15, 1957, Serial No. 696,791 4 Claims. (Cl.200-153) This invention relates to devices for operating a switchcontrolling a circuit of any type or kind by two directional operationof the device so that the device can be operated by two differentmembers or a single member which is moved in two directions. Moreparticularly, the invention deals with a device of the characterdescribed, comprising a cam-like switch actuating element, to which isfixed an operating member in the form of a finger or rod.

The novel features of the invention will be best understood from thefollowing description, when taken together with the accompanyingdrawing, in which certain embodiments of the invention are disclosedand, in which, the separate parts are designated by suitable referencecharacters in each of the views and, in which:

' Fig. 1 is a side view of a my invention, showing a switch mountedtherein, with part of the construction broken away.

Fig. 2 is a section substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. l, with partof the structure shown in elevation.

Fig. 3 is a front view of a modified form of device, with parts of theconstruction broken away.

Fig. 4 is a side view of the structure as shown in Fig. 3, with parts ofthe construction broken away; and

Fig. 5 is a plan and sectional view of the device shown in Figs. 3 and4.

In practice, I provide a switch operating device comprising a bracket orsupporting frame which, in the construction shown, has spaced bearingportions 11 and 12 joined by an apertured crosshead and mounting plateportion 13, part of the apertures being indicated in dotted lines at 14.A switch of any type and kind 15 is suitably mounted in connection withthe crosshead 13, so as to dispose the switch button 16 within the spacedisposed between the bearings 11 and 12 substantially as shown. Theswitch 15 has two or more terminals 17, with which circuit wires to asuitable electrical device to be controlled by the switch are coupled.

Mounted in the bearings 11 and 12 is an operating member 18, comprisinga rod end 19 supported in the bearings and retained against displacementtherefrom by two key pins or the like 20 adjacent the bearing 12. Themember 18 also includes an angularly extending finger or rod 21, whichis adapted to be actuated by the articles or parts controlled by theswitch, which articles or parts are capable of movement in twodirections, as indicated by the arrows 22 and 23 in Fig. 2 of thedrawing.

Fixed to the rod 19, substantially centrally between the bearings 11, isa switch actuating cam element 24, preferably of plastic material. Oneend of the element has a large disc portion 25, upon one surface ofwhich is the cam portion 26 of the element, the cam portion being formedby cutting away a surface of the element 26, as indicated at 27, sothat, in the normal position of the device, the button 16 of the switchwill be clear of the surface 27 as clearly noted in Fig. 2 of thedrawing.

A torsion coil spring 27 is mounted on the rod 19 between the disc andbearing 11 and has ends fixed device made according to- Patented Apr.14, 1959 ice in the bearing 11, as indicated at 28, and in the disc 25,as indicated at 29. The spring 27 normally maintains the element 24 inthe position shown in Fig. 2, in which position the rod 21 can, forexample, be arranged in axial alinement with the axis of the switch.

The circuit controlled by the switch 15 may be a normally open circuit,in which event, the actuation of the element 24 will close the circuitor it can be the normally closed circuit, whereupon, actuation of theelement 26 will operate to open or break the circuit. Operation of thedevice will be readily understood from the foregoing description and thefollowing statement.

In some uses of this type and kind, two different moving parts canoperate upon the rod 21 to control actuation of the switch. In otherwords, one part can be movable in the direction ofthe arrow 22 and theother part can be movable in the direction of the arrow 23. In someinstances, however, a single member might have two means spaced thereonfor operative engagement with the rod 21 so that, at predeterminedlimits of travel, the rod 21 will be actuated to, in turn, operate theswitch in control of the circuit.

It will be apparent that, in movement of the rod 21 in the direction ofthe arrow 22, the cam portion 30 will actuate the button 16 to move thesame inwardly and control the circuit of the switch 15; whereas,movement 5 of the rod 21 in the direction of the arrow 23 will bring thecam'surface 31 into operative engagement with the button 16 toaccomplish the same result. The degree of movement of the rod 21 ineither of these directions can be through an arc of 45 to greater thanin either direction.

It will also be apparent, however, that, in some instances, and with thetype of switch employed, the degree of movement of the member 18, or thefinger or rod 21 thereof, can be reasonably slight, particularly whensensitive type of switch devices are employed. In this connection, itwill be apparent that the cutaway surface 27 functions as part of thecam surfaces 30, 31. To illustrate one adaptation and use of theinvention, a switch device of the type and kind under consideration canbe utilized in actuating a light built upon the opening of a closetdoor, the device assuming the normally inoperative position shown in thedrawing, when the door is in closed or substantially closed position. Itwill be apparent, however, that many varied uses can be given to theswitch device in controlling circuits of any type or kind.

In Figs. 3 to 5, inclusive, I have shown another adaptation of myinvention, in which 32 represents a supporting plate having, fashionedfrom the material thereof, outwardly extending bearings 33 for anoperating rod 34, generally similar to the rod 19, except that the rod34 is tubular in form.

The lower end of the rod has an extending portion 35 flattened andshaped to form a more or less L-shaped foot 36 at its free end, this endbeing generally similar to the end 21 of the rod 19.

Supported upon the upper end of the plate by suitable bolts or rivets 37is a switch block 38 of suitable insulating material, having a roundbore 39 opening through one end of the block. Mounted on one of thebolts or rivets 37 and insulated therefrom by a sleeve 40 are a pair ofspring contacts 41, 42 having coupling ends, which protrude beyond theblock for attachment of circuit wires therewith, as diagrammaticallyillustrated.

Movably supported in the block 38 is a switch operating button 43, thehead 44 of which is disposed in the bore 39 and normally positionedadjacent the contact 41. The contacts have contact points 41', 42 onadjacent surfaces thereof, as clearly seen in Fig. 5 of the drawing, sothat, in moving the button 43 inwardly, as later described, the points41', 42' will be moved into operative engagement to complete the circuitthrough the contacts.

An insulating sleeve 45 spaces the contacts one from another in theirmounting on the sleeve 40 and the contacts are such as to fit snugly inthe bore 39, as noted in- Fig. 4, thus checking lateral separation ofthe contacts.

Also mounted on the rivets or bolts 33 are spacing bushings 46 and 47,the bushings 46 being of two parts to provide a space therebetween toreceive one hooked end 48' of a spring 49, as clearly noted in Fig. ofthe drawing.

The other end 50 of the spring is coupled with an offset V-shapedportion 51 at the terminal end 52 of another heavier spring 53 arrangedin the upright portion of the tubular rod 34. The lower end of thespring 53 extends downwardly in a straight portion 54, having anoutwardly offset end 55 which is arranged in an aperture 56 in the tube34, the end 55 serving to support the rod 34 against downward movementin the bearings 33.

Upward movement of the rod 34 in the bearings 33' is checked byarrangement of the block 38 to overlie the upper end of the rod where itis arranged in the uppermost bearing 33, as noted at 38" in Fig. 4 ofthe drawing.

Now considering Fig. 5 of the drawing, the parts are here shown in theirnormal or inoperative position with the rod end 35 extendingvsubstantially at right angles to the plate 32. It will, thus, be seenthat, in movement of a door or other object to be controlled by theswitch, in the direction of the arrow 57 of Fig. 5, the rod 34 will berotated ina clockwise direction, increasing the tension on the spring 53to the point where the end 52 will be moved against the action of thespring. 49, until it passes a. dead center position; whereupon, thespring 49 will suddenly move the end 52 of the spring beyond this deadcenter position, until the end 52 assumes a position substantially asindicated by the dot-dash line 58 of Fig. 5, causingv the end 52 or theportion 52 thereof, as noted in Fig. 3 in dotted lines, to strike thebutton 43 and force the same into the box 38 to complete contact betweenthe points 41, 42' and tensionally retain these points in closed circuitposition, until such time as the rod 34 is freed; whereupon, the spring35 will operate to again snap the end 52 back into the full lineposition of Fig. 5,. freeing the button 43 and the spring tension. ofthe contact 41 will result in separation of the points 41', 42. Theportion 52' may be defined as a switch actuating element.

The switch structure, as shown in Figs. 3 to 5, inclusive, is a one-wayactuation switch, rather than the double action-type, as noted in Figs.1 and 2 of the drawing.

The snap action provided by the structure shown in Figs. 3 to 5,inclusive, is desirable in many types and kinds of installations over anaction of the type and kind illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing.

The supporting plate, including the bearings 33, may be said to comprisea frame and the block, with its associated parts, namely the contacts41, 42 and button 43, will comprise a switch which is mounted in theframe. Further, the end 52, 52" of the spring 53 may be said to comprisea switch actuating element by reason of the fact that operation of therod 34 directly controls movement of 52,, 52 into the switch operating,position and. the rod constitutes means projecting from the casing foractuation of said element.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. A switch device comprising a frame, a circuit controlling switchmounted in the frame, a switch actuating element rotatable in the frame,spring means controlling operation of said element and normallysupporting the element in inoperative position with. respect to saidswitch, means projecting from the frame for actuatingsaid element inmovement of the element into switch actuating position, said last namedmeans including a tubular portion supported in spaced bearings in theframe, said spring means comprisingv a coil spring mounted in saidtubular portion and having an integral end protruding from the tubularportion and forming said switch actuating element, and a second coilspring supported inthe frame and coupled with said element to normallysupport the element ininoperative position and in retention: of theelement in the circuit closing position of said switch.

2. A switch device comprising a frame having spaced; integral bearings,a circuit controlling switch mounted in the frame, av rod rotatable insaid bearings, a switch actuating element operated by said rod, meanssupporting, the element in inoperative position with respect to saidswitch, said rod having an integral radial extension, whereby said rodmay be actuated in. movement of said element into position to actuatesaid switch, tensional means controlling operation of said element,said. rod including a tubular portion arranged in said bearings, andsaid tensional means comprising a coil spring mounted in said tubularportion and having an integral end protruding from said tubular portionand forming said switchactuating element.

3. A device as defined in claim 2, wherein the other end of said coilspring, in conjunction with said switch, retains the tubular portionagainst displacement from the bearings of said frame.

4. A switch device comprising a frame having spaced integral bearings, acircuit controlling switch mounted in the frame, a rod rotatable in saidbearings, a switch actuating element operated by said rod, meanssupporting the element in inoperative position with respect to saidswitch, said rod having an integral radial extension, whereby said rodmay be actuated in movement of said element into position to actuatesaid switch, tensional means controlling operation of said element, saidrod including a tubular portion arranged in said bearings, and saidtensional means comprising a coil spring mounted in said tubular portionand having an integral end protruding from said tubular portion andengaging one of. said hearings in retaining the parts in assembledrelationship.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,148,801 Bluemle Feb. 28, 1939 2,235,779 Van Dusen Mar. 18, 19412,573,833 Christensen Nov. 6, -1

